Leonys Martin

Martin chipped in 24 stolen bases and 15 homers in 2016, but struggled to replicate that production in his sophomore season with Seattle. The 29-year-old hit just .174/.221/.287 in 34 games with the Mariners before being designated for assignment and subsequently traded to the Cubs, with whom his struggles continued. He's still a well-regarded defender and baserunner; while Martin has never been even a league-average hitter as measured by wRC+, he has done enough overall to be worth two-plus wins above replacement on three different occasions according to FanGraphs (2013, 2014 and 2016). That track record was enough to land him a big-league deal with the Tigers this offseason. He will compete with Victor Reyes this spring to open the year as the starting center fielder, and could prove to be a solid source of speed.

The former Rangers prospect lost sleeper buzz entering last year with the Mariners, but he enjoyed his best overall fantasy season in a fresh crack at a full-time role. While Safeco Field has a pitcher-friendly reputation - and it hurt Martin's home batting average - he hit seven of his home runs there. His second-half slide (four after the All-Star break) was more of a correction, not necessarily proving his pop from the first half was completely fake. He'll likely fall short of 15 and won't help in batting average (note the 25.9 percent strikeout rate) or on-base percentage (his 7.6 percent walk rate last year was a career high). He'll continue to hit high in the order against right-handed pitchers, and it's notable that he improved against lefties last season. Fantasy players combing for stolen bases with a clear path to playing time should not pass up Martin as the draft winds down. He's swiped at least 24 bags in his first three full seasons, after all.

Martin's status as Texas' center fielder came to an end after a poor performance early in the season opened the door for Delino DeShields Jr, as Martin's average plummeted to .219 (in some part thanks to a modest .274 BABIP). Martin has failed to advance much as a hitter since his rookie season back in 2013 and projects as nothing more than a 5 HR/30 SB peak in a full-time role at this point. He was traded to the Mariners in the offseason, where a change of scenery could serve him well as Seattle's starting center fielder.

Martin finished the season as the Rangers' leadoff hitter after the injury bug finally sidelined Shin-Soo Choo for good, and he piled up stolen bases at a more impressive clip atop the order (12 steals in 40 games). In his second full campaign with the Rangers, Martin drew a few more walks and struck out slightly less often, but he appears to be a finished product as a big league hitter entering his age-27 season. Defensively, he's very good in center field, and that may keep him in the lineup too often against lefties, who held him to a .250/.287/.294 line in 2014. Martin should be able to make a run at his third consecutive 30-steal season regardless of where he hits in 2015, but the benefits he could reap in his other counting stats from improved health in the lineup around him may be offset by a likely move back to the bottom-third of the order.

Martin's rookie season was a tale of two halves, slashing .283/.336/.422 in the first half before dipping to .238/.289/.348 in the second half. Whether or not it was the league exploiting some weakness (his poor 28:104 BB:K would suggest that) or general fatigue for a player in his rookie season, Texas needs the Martin of the first half to become the norm in order to successfully have him take over as the everyday option in center field. Don't be surprised if he ends up dropping down in the order against lefties, as his early struggles against southpaws merit a platoon-based adjustment should the Rangers decide that they want to keep his glove in the lineup for those matchups now that Craig Gentry is in Oakland.

Martin missed some time early in the season with a thumb ligament issue and saw some token time off the bench for Texas, but his year was largely spent at Triple-A Round Rock getting his first prolonged exposure at the level. He excelled, hitting .359/.422/.610, but was a disappointment on the basepaths with 10 steals in 19 attempts. There's an opening in center field with Josh Hamilton departing via free agency, and Martin would seem to have the first crack at the job (with a little Craig Gentry mixed in against tough lefties). He wasn't great at Triple-A the year prior, and will likely have an adjustment period in the majors if he's handed the job, but there's some value here depending on how the outfield situation develops this spring.

Martin was declared a free agent in March after defecting from Cuba the year prior and signed by Texas for $15.5 million over the next five years. He made his professional debut at Double-A Frisco, hitting .348/.435/.571 in 29 games and showing good plate awareness (15:8 BB:K). Shelved by a herniated disc in his back for a few weeks, Martin was promoted to Triple-A Round Rock soon after his return and the results were disappointing (.263/.316/.314 and 24 strikeouts in 40 games). He made a brief appearance in the Arizona Fall League (.290/.389/.516 in 31 at-bats, stealing four bases in five attempts), and will likely begin the year at Round Rock barring a huge spring training. It's possible he carves out some playing time with Texas in 2012 as the center fielder as the season wanes (particularly if Josh Hamilton is moved to left), but it would like come out of the No. 9 spot in the lineup with Ian Kinsler seemingly re-entrenched as Texas' leadoff hitter.